Dynamic Materials Development Workshop to Advance African Language Resources
In a bid to help strengthen the creation of high-quality multilingual learning resources, the University of Natal’s (UKZN) University Language Planning and Development Office (ULPDO) hosted a two-day Materials Development workshop.
The event brought together experts in African language scholarship, digital pedagogy and curriculum design for an intensive programme focused on developing accessible, impactful training materials.
The workshop was facilitated by Professor Nomalanga Mkhize of the Nelson Mandela University, a leading historian whose research centres on African language vernacular literatures, and Dr Zweli Mfishi of UKZN’s Teaching and Learning Office (UTLO), an instructional designer specialising in digital pedagogies.
Their combined expertise provided participants with a rich blend of theoretical insight and practical methodology.
The programme introduced a systematic, outcomes-based approach to content creation, guiding participants through defining clear learning objectives, developing aligned instructional content and assessments, using rapid prototyping to test materials, and applying continuous improvement processes rooted in learner feedback.
This framework equips educators with tools to produce clear, meaningful and student-centred multilingual resources.
Day one, led by Mkhize, explored revitalising African-language glossaries through conceptual development, identifying foundational concepts for first-year students, and crafting effective communication strategies in isiZulu. Participants also examined the role of visual language in enhancing meaning and concluded the day by producing concept samples that integrated visuals and text.
The second day expanded on these foundations through hands-on exercises, prototype development and group feedback. The Nursing team delivered a presentation, with the College of Health Sciences’s (CHS) Dr Silingene Ngcobo emphasising the value of iterative design, user-centred thinking, and non-linear problem-solving in creating African-language academic materials.
Principal Graphic Designer, Mr Lungelo Ngcobo, showcased a collaborative project with the Nursing team, discussing branding considerations and demonstrating how visual communication can support multilingual teaching.
Their isiZulu presentation focused on explaining the clinical concepts of temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure. The workshop provided a collaborative environment for academics, language practitioners, and designers to advance UKZN’s commitment to multilingualism and inclusive education. Through initiatives such as this, the ULPDO continues to strengthen African languages in academia and supports the creation of learning resources that are accessible, culturally grounded and transformative.
Words: Nombuso Dlamini
Photo: Andile Ndlovu
